Ziggy Marley

Ziggy Marley is a Jamaican reggae musician, singer, guitarist and composer from Kingston, Jamaica. Born David Nesta Marley in 1968, he is the oldest son of Bob Marley and Rita Anderson Marley and grows up in the musical and spiritual environment of the Marley family. His father gives him the nickname Ziggy, and he learns Rastafari from his parents.

Early life and family background

Marley is raised in Saint Ann Parish and Trenchtown, Jamaica, with access to the reggae scene around Bob Marley and the Wailers. He first joins recording sessions with Bob Marley and the Wailers at about the age of 10. He later performs with his three siblings as The Melody Makers, with the group name appearing as Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.

Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers

With his siblings, Marley develops a sound that draws on soul, blues, R&B, hip-hop and roots reggae. The group releases Play the Game Right and Hey World! in the mid-1980s, then Conscious Party in 1988, an album produced by Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads. That record includes “Tomorrow People” and “Tumbling Down” and wins the group a Grammy for Best Reggae Recording. Later releases include One Bright Day, Jamekya, Joy and Blues, Free Like We Want 2 B, Fallen Is Babylon, Spirit of Music and Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers Live, Vol. 1, which includes many of their best-known songs and a cover of Bob Marley’s “Could You Be Loved”. The group earns multiple Grammy awards during this period.

Solo work

After around two decades leading The Melody Makers, Marley begins a solo career with Dragonfly in 2003. He records parts of the album in Miami and Los Angeles after writing the songs in Jamaica. His second solo album, Love Is My Religion, follows, with Marley writing all of the songs and playing nearly all of the instruments. Songs associated with his solo career include “Love Is My Religion” and “A Lifetime”.

Style and recognition

Marley is identified with contemporary reggae and roots reggae, and his music blends reggae with other styles while staying close to the musical traditions of his family. He is a multiple Grammy-winning artist and remains associated with both his solo work and the Marley family projects, including Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, The Marley Brothers and the Marley Family Band. He is also linked with Tuff Gong Worldwide.